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How It Works

From plan to build, step by step

Pick a plan, choose PDF or CAD, and receive the plan set digitally once payment is confirmed. Here is what happens, and what you get.

Browse House Plans See What’s in a Set

74house plans in the catalogue today

12styles, from tiny cabins to barndominiums

$79is where plan sets start

Five steps, start to finish

No consultations or quote forms are needed to buy a plan.

1
Find your plan
Browse by style, then filter by size, bedrooms, bathrooms and garage. Every plan page shows the price, square footage, room count and storeys, so you can compare like for like. Ask us for the sheet list if it is not shown.
2
Ask anything first
Not sure it fits your lot or your budget? Email us before you buy. We would rather tell you a plan is wrong for you than sell you the wrong one.
3
Choose PDF or CAD
Pick the PDF Set for building as drawn, or add CAD Files for +$150 if a designer will make changes. Pay securely through Stripe.
4
Receive your PDF plan set
Plans are supplied digitally as PDF files. Our Shipping and Delivery Policy explains how and when files are made available. No physical shipping and no shipping charge.
5
Price, permit, build
Print as many copies as your build needs. Hand the set to your builder to price. Your building department decides what your permit application needs, which may include changes or additional documents.

Example floor plan sheet from a Planbarn construction set

A floor plan sheet from one of our sets. Yours arrives as a print-ready PDF.

What a typical plan set contains

A house plan is the recipe for the house. Typical sets include the drawings below; contents vary by plan.

Cover sheet and general notesScope, conventions and the construction notes your builder reads first.
Foundation planSlab, crawl space or basement, with footings and load-bearing points marked.
Dimensioned floor plansEvery level fully dimensioned, so nothing is guessed on site.
Exterior elevationsAll four sides drawn to scale, with materials, heights and rooflines.
Building sections and roof planVertical cuts showing how the structure stacks, plus pitches and ridges.
Electrical layoutsOutlets, switches and fixtures placed room by room.

Check the plan page for that set’s specifications. If the sheet list is not shown, email us and we will send it before you order.

PDF or CAD: which one do you need?

Both include the same drawings. The difference is whether anyone will edit them.

PDF Set

Included

For building the plan as drawn.

Print-ready construction drawings
Print as many copies as your build needs
What your builder prices from
Single-build licence

CAD Files

+$150

For anyone changing the design.

Everything in the PDF Set
Editable DWG files for your architect or draftsperson
Opens in AutoCAD and most CAD software
Changes cost less because nobody has to redraw the PDF first

Already bought the PDF and changed your mind?

You can add the CAD files later with the CAD upgrade ($175). Some plans do not have a CAD version yet, so email us first and we will confirm it exists for yours.

What happens after you pay

Minutes

Not days

Once Stripe confirms your payment, your download link is shown on your order confirmation page and sent to the email address you used at checkout.

Print freely

Print for your builder, trades, lender and permit office. No per-copy fees.

Lost the files?

Send your order number and we reissue the link, however long ago you ordered.

Secure checkout, no account needed

Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, processed by Stripe. Guest checkout is fine, and because delivery is digital there is no shipping, customs or delivery charge anywhere in the world.

Who handles what

Permit requirements depend on your location, site and proposed construction, so some items come from qualified professionals in your area. Your builder can often recommend them.

Planbarn provides

Construction drawings for the plan you buy, as listed on its plan page
Free quotes for changes to the drawings
Plan questions answered by email before and after you buy
A single-build licence to construct the design once

Arranged locally

Structural engineering, and any stamp or seal your jurisdiction requires
Site plan, grading, survey, soil report and septic design
Energy calculations where required
Mechanical and plumbing design where required
Permit applications and approvals

Need the plan changed to suit your site or code? See plan modifications. Building the same plan more than once? Ask us about a multi-build licence.

Questions people ask before ordering

Can I get a permit with these plans?

The plan set is a starting point for your application, not a guarantee of approval. Permit requirements depend on your location, site and proposed construction. Your building department determines which drawings, calculations and professional approvals are required, such as an engineering stamp, a site plan or energy calculations, and local review may identify changes needed to the plans. Check with them before you order.

Can I change the plan?

Often, yes. Ask us for a free modification quote and we will confirm what is possible for that plan; we aim to reply within two business days. If you plan to use your own designer, ask whether CAD files exist for the plan so they can edit the drawings directly.

How much will the house cost to build?

That depends on your location, finishes and site. Our building cost guide walks through the main factors, and your builder can price directly from the PDF set.

What if I buy the wrong plan?

Contact us promptly. We honour any cancellation rights that apply to your order. Once digital supply has begun with your consent, change-of-mind refunds are not normally offered, but a voluntary exchange can be considered individually, with any price difference agreed in advance. See our Returns & Refunds Policy for the full terms.

How do I receive the files?

Digitally, once payment is confirmed. Your link is shown on the order confirmation page and emailed to you. If it does not arrive, check your spam or junk folder, or email support@planbarn.com with your order number.

Can I build the plan more than once?

Each purchase is a single-build licence. Builders and developers who want to build the same plan repeatedly can ask us to quote a multi-build licence.

Before you buy

Check the overall dimensions against your lot and setbacks.
Confirm the layout and room sizes.
Review the listed inclusions and exclusions.
Ask your local building department about additional requirements.
Request a modification quote before purchase if changes are needed.

Ask about a plan Request a modification quote

Find the plan you will build

Browse 74 house plans, each with the price and specifications on the page.

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Construction drawing setsSingle-build licenceFree modification quotes